The EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement and Corporate Accountability: Opportunities and…
Bridging Trade and Human Rights in Southern Africa The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union and the Southern…
Justice Without Business and Human Rights Jurisdiction: The Case of…
Introduction Pursuant to Article 23 (1) of the EAC Treaty 1999, the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) is the…
Building on Nyerere: Rethinking Business and Human Rights through the…
Starting on Solid Ground Regions across the so-called ‘Global South’ are rich in resources, such as oil, minerals, cobalt, gold…
The Repurposing of Individual Duties and the Making of an…
The African System as a “Norm Leader” As Obiora Okafor and Godwin Dzah wrote, the African human rights system is…
Africa as Norm-Maker: Introducing the BHRJ/ALS Blog Symposium on Business,…
Setting the Stage The Business and Human Rights (BHR) field has long been dominated by frameworks emanating from the Global…
Imagining an “Afrocentric future” of international law: Observations on emerging…
Introduction: The long-awaited change in the making Following in the footsteps of most recent calls by African legal scholars, in…
- The EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement and Corporate Accountability: Opportunities and Limitations for Protecting Human RightsBridging Trade and Human Rights in Southern Africa The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) States represents a significant milestone in regional trade integration. Yet beneath its economic provisions lies a more complex question: can trade agreements effectively advance corporate accountability for human rights? This agreement…
- Justice Without Business and Human Rights Jurisdiction: The Case of the EACJ as a Regional Judicial-Based Remedy MechanismIntroduction Pursuant to Article 23 (1) of the EAC Treaty 1999, the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) is the primary judicial organ of the East African Community (EAC or the Community). Article 9(1)(e) of the Treaty requires Partner States to apply and interpret the EAC Treaty. As the main judicial organ of the Community, …
- Building on Nyerere: Rethinking Business and Human Rights through the African Charter and (indigenous) African PerspectivesStarting on Solid Ground Regions across the so-called ‘Global South’ are rich in resources, such as oil, minerals, cobalt, gold and fertile agricultural land, that are scarce elsewhere, making them highly attractive to the ‘rest of the world’. Over time, the geographic allocation of these resources evolved into an intense global demand which was soon…
- Equitable Urban Transitions in Africa: Legal Opportunities and ConstraintsIntroduction Urbanisation in sub-Saharan Africa is accelerating at an unprecedented rate, with the urban population projected to grow from approximately 472 million in 2020 to over 1.2 billion by 2050, raising the proportion of city dwellers from 43 % to nearly 60 % of the total population. This rapid growth presents both opportunities and challenges for equitable urban development.…
- Inclusive Urban Transitions and Planning Law in East Africa: A Comparative Review of Kenya, Rwanda, and EthiopiaIntroduction Rapid urbanisation across East Africa presents opportunities and profound challenges for sustainable and equitable development. While urban populations have grown rapidly, this growth has not consistently translated into improved productivity or equitable development. Colonial legacies of segregated and car-oriented planning persist disadvantaging the majority who rely on non-motorised transport. Equitable urban transitions therefore require…
- State obligations in addressing Climate Change: The interplay between the climate treaty regime and international Human Rights lawIntroduction Recent climate events illustrate the growing human impact of climate change.[1] However, the legal framework governing state responsibility remains fragmented. This short piece argues that while climate treaties provide the primary institutional framework for mitigation, adaptation and international cooperation, human rights law imposes more stringent and enforceable duties on states. I highlight how the…
- Child Marriage in Somalia: Legal Pluralism and the Limits of International Human Rights ImplementationIntroduction: Child Marriage in Contemporary Somalia In 2025, Somalia ratified the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.[1] Ten years earlier, the country had also ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which clarifies the age of majority as 18.[2] The move was met with protests, with men arguing that…
- The Human Rights Situation in the Federal Republic of Somalia: Challenges and Perspectives Introduction The Federal Republic of Somalia, located in the Horn of Africa, bears the scars of a past marked by colonial rule, a brief period of independence, and a devastating civil war that began in 1991. The collapse of the central government plunged the country into years of anarchy and clan-based violence, while also enabling…
- Investment and Investor Protection in SomaliaIntroduction With Somalia’s accession to the East African Community (EAC), the internal market of this community is also becoming increasingly attractive for foreign investments. A common market with over 300 million populations is developing, and there is not only a common internal market. It also has an excellent strategic location from the Indian Ocean to…
- A Digital Pathway to Integration Beyond Legal Frameworks to Digital RealityIntroduction The region’s track towards integration has been long: legal frameworks have been established, the Customs Union has been formed,[1] the Common Market Protocol has been put in place,[2] and the Monetary Union is the ultimate goal pursued for more than 20 years[3]. But the gap between policy and practice is wide: intra-EAC trade has…
- The Message Communicated to African Regionalisation Following the Creation of the Alliance of Sahel States-AESIntroduction The Alliance of Sahel States, also known in French as the ‘Alliance des Etats du Sahel’ (AES), is a confederation formed by Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali.[1] The AES was established in September 2023, following the adoption of the Charter of Liptako-Gourma, which establishes the Alliance of Sahel States.[2] The AES Charter was signed…
- How African countries are managing the potentially catastrophic risks of just transition through the investment regimeIntroduction Foreign investment has long been an important policy tool for countries seeking to transform their economies. The international investment regime—comprising treaties and institutions—has supported this objective by creating policies to attract and protect investment. For developing countries, foreign investment plays a particularly crucial role in alleviating poverty, generating employment opportunities, and fostering economic…